Galaphile
From The World of Shannara
Galaphile was the driving force and creator of the Druid Order and Paranor. He was the first High Druid and considered the Father of the Druid Council. He never appears as a living character in any of the books, but is mentioned in a great many of them. He does appear as a shade from Hadeshorn, to council the Druids Bremen and Allanon in the First King of Shannara and the Original Shannara Trilogy
| Galaphile | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Race: | Elf |
| Gender: | Male |
| Hair color: | Unknown |
| Eye color: | Unknown |
| Loyalty: | Four Lands |
| First appearance: | First King of Shannara as a shade |
| Birth: | Unknown |
| Death: | Unknown but confined to a shade at Hadeshorn |
Contents |
Creation of the Druid Council and Paranor
The circumstances or dates around his birth and childhood remain a mystery. But it is believed that he was entrusted with knowledge from the Old World at an early age. When the Druid Council was created Galaphile already had large personal library of material from the Old World. He began to see that the struggles the Races where in could be mitigated by knowledge that was from the Old World.
Galaphile's solution to the problem of the struggles among the Races was to gather together the wisest men and women from all the Races. He worked on creating a council that would gather and protect the knowledge of the past while working towards the betterment of the Races. Many answered his initial calls for the Druid Order, and brought their knowledge with them.[1] He was determined to re-create the Old World that had been lost, while avoiding the corruptions of power that had led to its destruction.[1]
He also realized the need for a place to house the books and relics of the past, as well a share learning and chronicle new information and knowledge. He gathered his fellows, the First Council of Druids in the caldera of a dormant volcano near the Kennon Pass. Galaphile and the First Council oversaw both the collection of the past as well as the construction by the finest masons, carpenters, architects, sappers and craftsmen in the known lands. Ten years after the start of construction the Druid Keep known as Paranor was finished.
Epilogue
The exact end of Galaphile, is lost in mystery. It is known that the Druid Bremen was able to call up the spirit of Galaphile numerous times and get guidance and support to help the Races in their time of need during the Second War of the Races. The visions provided to Bremen where instrumental in the courses of action that saved the Races during that conflict.[2] Galaphile and the Druids past also imbued the Sword of Shannara with its power so that it might be used against the rebel Druid Brona as well as other beings in the future.[3]
Legacy
Galaphile's vision of a re-creation of the Old World, never bore fruition. The knowledge of the old science was too lost, too scattered over a thousand years, and the world had changed too much. However his vision of the Druids becoming the protectors of the Races and helping them in times of need, did bear fruit. Many times in the future during the First War of the Races, the Second War of the Races and on into the future have the Druids ever been the benefactors of the Four Lands. While the argument has been made that the Druids have twisted those they would lead in their own ways, the Races have always been saved from great evil and magic through their efforts.
References
- ^ 1.0 1.1 Brooks, Terry and Patterson, Teresa (2001). The World of Shannara pp. 10
- ^ Brooks, Terry (1996). First King of Shannara pp. 70-72
- ^ Brooks, Terry (1996). First King of Shannara pp. 370-372
| Druids in Shannara |
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Allanon · Athabasca · Bremen · Brona · Cogline · Galaphile · Grianne · Kahle Reese · Mareth · Risca · Tay · Walker Boh |
